Parents' Guide to

Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

So-so reality series tries to sell a souring family brand.

TV VH1 Reality TV 2010
Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

RahRah504
RahRah504 Adult
July 20, 2010
age 17+
I am an adult and I like it. I can't wait for season 2 to hit the airwaves.

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What's the Story?

In BRANDY AND RAY J: A FAMILY AFFAIR, R&B singer/actress Brandy Norwood and her kid brother, recording artist and reality star Ray J, get an unexpected order from their mother, Sonja, who's also their manager: It's time for them to take control of their own careers and learn the ins and outs of the family business. That means they each get their own offices, and Sonja gets to spend more time with her husband, Willie Sr. On television, Brandy is best known for her kid-friendly series Moesha, while Ray J starred in two seasons of his own reality dating show, For the Love of Ray J.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (2):

This VH1 slice of "celebreality" sounds like a charming concept when it comes to family viewing until you consider that at 31 and 29 years old, respectively, Brandy and Ray J should have stepped up to the plate a long time ago. And at that point, the whole premise feels a bit like the Emperor's New Clothes. After all, is this really the first time they've tried to understand how the business works? If so, that's kind of sad.

Although there's some real potential here for family bonding and meaningful takeaways, the show really gets interesting when Ray J, who's particularly candid about how "the business" works for him, shares unexpected realities about his fame. Like the fact that people will pay him to show up at their parties, and that he can make up to $1 million a year doing that alone six nights a week. "It's a hustle," he admits, matter-of-factly. And when he says it, you realize he's right.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about consumerism and how this series could help Brandy and Ray J advance their careers. Whose idea do you think it was, VH1's or the Norwoods'? Is the consumerism subtle or overt?

  • How "real" are the things you're seeing? Does any part of this reality series seemed contrived? How can you tell?

  • How does the format of this show differ from Ray J's reality dating series? Does it show him in a different light?

TV Details

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